Abstract
Microalgae have drawn the attention of several researchers as an alternative to the traditional physicochemical CO2 capture methods, since they can convert CO2 and water into organic matter and release oxygen into the atmosphere. Microalgal growth can be improved by changing light supply, such as light intensity, wavelength, and photoperiod. In this study, the effect of different light wavelengths on CO2 capture, nutrient removal from a synthetic effluent and biomass production of Chlorella vulgaris, Tetradesmus obliquus and Neochloris oleoabundans was studied. The experiments were conducted with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with different wavelengths: 380–750 nm (white), 620–750 nm (red) and 450–495 nm (blue). The maximum specific growth rate was obtained by N. oleoabundans with white LEDs (0.264 ± 0.005 d−1), whereas the maximum biomass productivity (14 ± 4 mgdw L−1 d−1) and CO2 fixation rate (11.4 mgCO2 L−1 d−1) were obtained by C. vulgaris (also with white LEDs). Nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies obtained under white light conditions were also the highest for the three studied microalgae.
Highlights
Since the pre-industrial period, the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) have been rapidly increasing due to anthropogenic activities, mainly the combustion of fossil fuels [1]
Taking into account the important role of light source on microalgal biomass production, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of different light wavelengths on the growth, biomass productivity, and CO2 capture, of three green microalgae: Chlorella vulgaris, Tetradesmus obliquus and Neochloris oleoabundans
All the species grew under the different light conditions, except N. oleoabundans, which did not grow when cultivated under blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
Summary
Since the pre-industrial period, the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) have been rapidly increasing due to anthropogenic activities, mainly the combustion of fossil fuels [1]. CO2 concentration can lead to ocean acidification and the intensification of the greenhouse effect, resulting in various negative impacts, such as [2,3,4]: (i) the increase of the global average temperature;. (ii) the melting of polar ice; and (iii) the rise of sea levels. To address this environmental problem, the scientific community has been exploring diverse options to effectively capture CO2 from the atmosphere or directly from emission sources. The most used CO2 capture technologies include physical adsorption, chemical absorption, membrane separation and cryogenic fractionation [5]. Physical adsorption uses a solid adsorbent to separate and capture CO2 from flue gases.
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